Radium dress

The sun shone brightly on the house nestled between mango, and jackfruit trees, bringing a flurry of morning things. The noise from the kitchen stirred Anjali from her deep slumber, but not to the point of waking her up. The alarm buzzed on the king-sized bedroom for the fifth time, making Anjali groan in irritation. "Parth!" She screamed, but there was no reply.

"Parth!" She screamed again, complaining in her dry, raspy morning voice. "Turn off the alarm!"

"It keeps ringing until you wake up." His voice echoed from the kitchen.

Anjali stretched her arm, tapping the tabletop in search of alarm. "My sleep disorders are advancing after marrying this Rakshas." She muttered, her eyes still closed shut. Turning off the alarm, she slumped into the bed on her stomach for another time. Waking up Anjali in the morning is the biggest challenge for Parth, and he comes up with all the possibilities that disturb her sleep.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the kitchen was a big mess with cut fruits and chopped vegetables. "I am turning into her personal cook after marrying this devil", Parth complained, picking tomatoes and spinach from the refrigerator to prepare Anjali's lunchbox. He chopped the tomatoes like a pro chef, his gaze occasionally shifting to the milk boiling on the stovetop.

Hearing the alarm sound off, he frowned. "Did she sleep again?" Turning off the stove, Parth poured the milk into a glass and strode to the bedroom.

His eyes went over her slender legs, crossed at her ankles. The self-control to plant his knee between her thighs and drive them apart was stalling. Parth looked at the clock and cursed.

It was Seven thirty already. Time is running out, and he is yet to make lunch for this sleepyhead. Clearing his dirty thoughts out of his head, Parth spoke up. "I will give you a minute to get up." Crossing his arms over his chest, Parth stood by the bedside.

"Hmmm.." Anjali turned, shifting her body to the left, giving her back access to Parth. "Five more minutes plea_"

A spank landed on her butt before Anjali completed the last word, 'please'... "Aww!" Anjali shot up on the bed, rubbing her bum. Her thick, long, messy hair spread to the sides like a curtain.

"There is never a day you wake up until you get a spank in the back, isn't it?" Parth asked, tidying up her messy hair. She badly needs a haircut, he reckoned. Parth has a strong inkling that Anjali will demand him to plait her hair sooner or later. Before things went down south, he decided to take her to the barbershop.

"This is called wife abusing." Her lips pouted.

"Isn't that my statement, my dear?" Parth countered as he walked to the wardrobe. He picked a yellow churidar and a Red Saree to let Anjali decide what she would wear today. Taking care of this devil is equal to raising a kid, Parth thought. His morning routine starts with breakfast and lunch preparation, waking her up, feeding her and dropping her at the office.

Anjali shamelessly ignored Parth's hidden remarks, "I never spanked you, though." She sulked, hugging him from behind, her nose warmed to his woody and musky scent. Grazing her hand over the red Saree, she said. "Red. My friends and colleagues say I look stunning in anything red." She added in delight. Her excitement was enough for Parth to put the Saree back into the wardrobe.

"Why?" She frowned as Parth handed the yellow dress to her. "Please Parth...I am not fond of yellow."

"I read in the newspaper." Parth's Stoney expression lay on her confused face. "Yellow is auspicious for Gemini's today. Also, there is no red colour without yellow. Give some respect to yellow." Having said that, Parth walked out of the room, leaving Anjali speechless.

Respect for yellow? What is he babbling?

"I am not a Gemini, dunderhead," Anjali shouted at the trailing figure, but he was already gone. "Why can't he admit that he is jealous?" It was not the first time Anjali witnessed Parth's jealousy. His fist speaks first if someone approaches her.

Anjali got ready for the office in an hour, and almost half the time went into braiding her hair. "Should I teach Parth how to braid?" Anjali considered the idea, flipping her beautifully plaited hair. The ear tops and the elastic band complimented her elegant yellow dress. Satisfied with the look, she walked out of the room.

The sweet aroma wafted Anjali's nose as she went downstairs. Her mouth watered at the sight of her favourite dish, vegetable rice, and the other food items that Parth packed for her. "My dear husband! Why are you so sweet."

Just when Anjali picked up the plate to serve the vegetable rice, the doorbell rang.

"Coming." She dashed into the living room. A woman appeared in Anjali's sight as she opened the door. Her brows squinted in annoyance, seeing the dippy woman standing in front of her wearing a bright radium-coloured dress.

Is she colour-blind, or she has no taste? Why does she wear gaudy clothes all the time?

"Hi, Anjali," The woman greeted, flashing her pearly teeth, which matched her glitzy radium dress.

"Hi, Nirali," Anjali replied, not allowing the woman into her house. Nirali- the peskiest neighbour Anjali ever encountered. She wondered how her mother-in-law handled this annoying woman for years who sneaks into their house at every opportunity.

Nirali smiled, eyes wandering into the house, searching for something or probably someone. "You went home, isn't it? When did you return?"

"Night." Replied Anjali in a single word. Judging by her low-cut dress, with half of her watermelons sprawling out, Anjali was not dumb to realize this shrewd cow's intentions.

"Ohh.. I thought you would stay for another week and spend time with your family."

"Hmmm..I thought so," Anjali posed an innocent maiden facade. "But you know...Parth doesn't stay without me by his side for a single day."

"Is that so?" Nirali forced a smile, although her internal organs burned out of envy.

"What brings you in the morning?" Anjali questioned, hiding her disgust.

"I cooked Parth's favourite dish_"

"Anjali..did you see my tie?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Nirali tilted her head and peeked into the house in excitement. Butterflies tickled in her stomach as she watched Parth descending the stairs in a suit, as handsome as she had seen.

Anjali watched Nirali in amusement, wondering if this woman still had hope with Parth.